Pneumatic rotary drill hammer



Nov. 19,1957 R. o. DULANEY PNEUMATIC ROTARY DRILL HAMMER 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed April 22, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

s Wm a W 0 B m e Nov. 19, 1957 Q DULANEY 2,813,516

' PNEUMATIC ROTARY DRILL HAMMER Filed April 22, 1955 2 Shqets-Sheet 2II/ II XA/ IN! INVENTOR. /cwaea o. 004 Aye- United States atent Office2,813,516 Patented Nov. 19, 1957 PNEUMATIC ROTARY DRILL HAMMER Richard0. Dulaney, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application April 22, 1955, Serial No. 503,120

Claims. (Cl. 121-30) This invention relates to percussion drillingtools, and more particularly to an improved percussion or impact tooloperated by fluid pressure and being particularly adapted for use indrilling earth bores for water, oil, gas or the ike.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedpneumatic percussion tool for use in drilling earth bores, said toolbeing simple in construction, being reliable in operation, and providingeconomical utilization of compressed fluid, such as compressed air,employed with the device, whereby the compressed fluid is utilized formoving the drill cuttings after it has been employed to produce apercussion stroke of the drill.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fluidactuated impact tool which is inexpensive to fabricate, which is ruggedin construction, and which is easy to assemble, whereby it may bereadily taken apart and reassembled when required.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through an improvedfluid pressure operated percussion tool constructed in accordance withthe present invention, shown with the hammer element elevated withrespect to the anvil element thereof and with the compressed air releasepassage open.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of thetool shown in Figure1, shown with the valve element engaged with its seat, whereby the fluidpressure release passage is closed and whereby the tool is prepared fora percussive stroke thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross sectional View taken through a modifiedform of fluid actuated impact tool constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 4--4 ofFigure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 3.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, 11generally designates an improved fluid actuated impact tool according tothis invention, said tool comprising the hammer casing 12 which hasthreadedly secured in itsbottom end the annular hammer element 13.Slidably received in the hammer element 13 is the anvil shaft 14, saidanvil shaft having a reduced lower end portion 15 on which is threadedlysecured the anvil member 16, said anvil member being provided in itsbottom portion with the internal threads 17, whereby it may bethreadedly secured to a subjacent section of drill pipe.

The anvil shaft 14 is formed with a reduced top portion 18 on which aresecured a plurality of sealing cups 19 of deformable resilient material,such as rubber or the like, said cups sealingly engaging the insidesurface of the hammer casing 12 and being secured on the reduced member18 by a clamping nut 20. As shown, a bearing collar 21 is provided onthe shoulder beneath. the lowermost sealing cup 19, and an annular guidecollar 22 is engaged around the member 18 and received in the firstsealing cup 19. The second sealing cup 19 rests on the top surface ofthe collar 22 and receives another guide collar 23 similar to the guidecollar 22. The clamping nut 20 engages the top surface of the annularguide collar 23 and is secured in clamping position by a lock nut 24threaded on the top end of the reduced member 18 and securing the nut 20against loosening.

The anvil shaft 14 is formed with the axial bore 25 which registers witha central bore 26 formed in the hammer element 16. At the top end of theshaft 14, an annular valve seat 27 is provided communicating with thebore 25.

Designated at 28 is a flanged nipple member which is threaded into thetop end of the hammer body 12 and which has an externally threaded,upwardly tapering top portion 29 threadedly engaged in a coupling sleeve30. Threadedly engaged in the top end of the coupling sleeve is a fluidpressure supply conduit 31, connected, for example, to a suitable sourceof compressed air.

The nipple member 28 is formed with the axial chamber 32 communicatingwith passages 33 leading to the space 34 between the nipple member 28and the top end of the anvil body 14. Designated at 35 is a shank memberwhich is slidably supported in an axial position in a suitable aperture36 centrally formed in the bottom wall of the nipple member 28, theshank member 35 having secured to its bottom end a hemispherical,downwardly facing valve element 37 adapted to sealingly engage on thevalve seat 27. A coiled spring 38 surrounds the upper portion of theshank 35, hearing between the bottom wall of the cylindrical recess 32and a collar 39 secured on the top end of the shank 35, and anothercoiled spring 40 surrounds the lower portion of the shank 35, bearingbetween the bottom wall of nipple 28 and the valve element 37. Thus, thevalve element 37 is resiliently connected to the hammer body 12 and issealingly engageable on the valve seat 27 when the hammer body islowered relative to the anvil element 16, for example, to the positionthereof shown in Figure 2.

The hammer body 12 and elements supported thereon are of substantialweight being thus biased downwardly toward the anvil element 16. Thus,the hammer body 12 tends to assume the position thereof shown in Figure2, wherein the valve element 37 is seated on the seat 27, closing offthe passage 25 which leads down into the drill bore. When fluid underpressure, for example compressed air, is admitted through the conduit 31into the space 34 through the recess 32 and passages 33, the compressedfluid acts downwardly on the valve element 37 and simultaneously actsupwardly on the hammer body 12, assuming the anvil element 16 to besupported in a stationary position by the underlying material. As thehammer body 12 is elevated relative to the anvil element 16, a point isreached where the valve 37 disengages from the seat 27, suddenlyestablishing communication between the space 34 and the passage 25,whereby the compressed fluid in the space 34 is allowed to escapedownwardly into the drill bore through the passage 25.

The release of the hammer body 12 causes the hammer body to suddenlydrop and deliver an impact on the anvil element 16, providing thedesired percussive action. At the same time, the valve element 37sealingly engages the seat 27, wherebythe above described cycle may bethreadedly secured at its lower end on a flanged nipple 13, said nipplehaving an externally threaded bottom end 14 which is threadedly engagedin the top end of a subjacent, drill casing segment 15. The nipple 135has areduced top portion 16', said top portion 16 having a furtherreduced top end 17 on which is threadedly secured an elongated,generally cylindrical cup member 18' which is substantially flush withthe reduced portion 16 of nipple 13 and defines therewith an annularspace 19' with respect to the casing 12'. Threadedly secured on the topend of the casing 12' is a bushing 20 to which is threadedly secured thefluid supply conduit 21', as shown. Compressed fluid, such as compressedair or the like, is thus admitted into a space 22 above the top wall ofthe cup member 1% which communicates with the annular space 19.

Designated at 23' is a hammer member which is slidably disposed insidethe cylindrical cup 18' and which is adapted to deliver an impact on thetop of the element 17 at the upper end of the nipple l3. Extendingaxially through the hammer member 23' and slidable therein is a conduitelement 24 which is provided at its bottom end with an annular valveelement 25' of resilient deformable material adapted to sealingly engageon the top end of the central bore 26 of nipple member 13.

The tubular conduit 24' is of suflicient length so that under allconditions of operation of the tool, the top end of said conduit 24projects above the top surface of the hammer member 23'. Designated at27 is a coiled spring whose lower end receives the top portion of theconduit 24 and whose upper end receives a depending axial stud 28'provided in the top wall of the cup member 18, thus centering the spring27. Designated at 29 is a coiled spring which surrounds the lowerportion of the conduit member 24', the lower end of the spring 29 beingsecured to the flange 30' in which the sealing element 25' is secured,and the top end of the spring 2% being secured to the bottom surface ofthe hammer member 23. Thus, the spring 29' may be considered as exertinga normal biasing force urging the hammer member 23 toward the anvilelement 17, this being aided by the normal biasing force exerted by thecoiled spring 27 on the top surface of the hammer member 23'. The spring29 is of course sufliciently compressible to allow the hammer 23 toengage the anvil element 17' with the desired impact.

Suitable passages 31' are provided, establishing communication betweenthe space 19' and the interior space 32 between the hammer member 23'and the anvil element.

Normally, the springs 29' and 27' coact to bias the valve element 25toward seating engagement with the top end of the bore 26'. When fluidunder pressure enters the space 19' and is admitted through the passages31' into the space 32', said fluid acts downwardly on the valve element25 and simultaneously acts upwardly on the hammer element 23', causingsaid hammer element to be elevated and producing tension in the spring29' which ultimately exerts suflicient upward force on the valve element25, which is firmly secured in the flange 30', to unseat the valveelement. This suddenly establishes communication between the space 32'and the escape bore 26', allowing the fluid to discharge from the space32', whereby the springs 29' and 27 coact to move the hammer element 23'downwardly with considerable force, producing the desired impact of thehammer element 23 on the annular anvil element 17. At the same time, thevalve element 25 again seats on the top end of the bore 26', allowingthe cycle to be repeated.

It will be noted that in both of the above described modifications ofthe invention, the fluid under pressure employed for operating theimpact tool is also employed to act on the drill cuttings in the drillbore, since the fluid under pressure is discharged downwardly into thebore simultaneously with each impact of the hammer element of the tool.The compressed fluid continues down the drill stem to the bottom of thedrill hole and acts on the cuti tings to force the cuttings upwardly tothe surface in the well known manner.

It will be noted that since the hammer element 23' is actuated by theaction of the springs 29 and 27', the device of Figures 3, 4 and 5 maybe employed for horizontal drilling as well as vertical drilling.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved fluid actuated impacttool for use in drilling earth bores have been disclosed in theforegoing description, it will be understood that various modificationswithin the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in theart. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on theinvention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid actuated impact tool, an anvil member having a fluidrelease bore extending therethrough, a hammer member, sleeve meansaxially secured to said hammer member and slidably and sealinglyreceiving said anvil member and slidably connecting said hammer memberto said anvil member for reciprocation relative thereto, said hammermember being formed to deliver an impact to said anvil member, a valvemember resiliently connected to and depending from said hammer memberand being at times sealingly engageable at its lower end with the topend of said fluid release bore, and fluid pressure conduit meansarranged to convey fluid under pressure to the space between said hammermember and anvil member and to elevate said hammer member suficiently tolift said valve member 011 the top end of said fluid release bore,whereby to release said hammer member for impact with said anvil member.

2. In a fluid actuated impact tool, an anvil member having a fluidrelease bore extending therethrough, a hammer member, sleeve meansaxially secured to said hammer member and slidably and sealinglyreceiving said anvil member and slidably connecting said hammer memberto said anvil member for reciprocation relative thereto, said hammermember being formed to deliver an impact to said anvil member, a valvemember aligned with said bore, said valve member depending from andbeing slidably and resiliently connected to said hammer member, meansurging the lower end of said valve member toward sealing contact withthe top end of said fluid release bore when the hammer member isadjacent the anvil member, and fluid pressure conduit means arranged toconvey fluid under pressure to the space between said hammer memher andanvil member and to elevate said hammer member sufficiently to lift saidvalve member off the top end of said fluid release bore, whereby torelease said hammer member for impact with said anvil member.

3. In a fluid actuated impact tool, an anvil member having a fluidrelease bore extending axially therethrough, a hammer member, sleevemeans axially secured to said hammer member and slidably and sealinglyreceiving said anvil member and slidably connecting said hammer memberto said anvil member for reciprocation relative thereto along the axisof said bore, said hammer member being formed to deliver an impact tosaid anvil member after the hammer member has been elevated relative tothe anvil member and then released, a valve member aligned with saidbore, said valve member depending from and being slidably andresiliently connected to said hammer member, means urging the lower endof said valve member toward sealing contact with the top end of saidfluid release bore when the hammer member is adjacent the anvil member,and fluid pressure conduit means arranged to convey fluid under pressureto the space between said hammer member and anvil member and to elevatesaid hammer member sufliciently to lift said valve member ofi the topend of said fluid release bore, whereby to release said hammer memberfor impact with said anvil member.

4. In a fluid actuated impact tool, an anvil member having a fluidrelease bore extending axially therethrough and having an annular valveseat at its top end, a hammer member, sleeve means axially secured tosaid hammer member and slidably and sealingly receiving said anvilmember and slidably connecting said hammer member to said anvil memberfor reciprocation relative thereto along the axis of said bore, saidhammer member being formed to deliver an impact to said anvil memberafter the hammer member has been elevated relative to the anvil memberand then released, a valve member aligned with said bore, said valvemember depending from and being slidably and resiliently connected tosaid hammer member, spring means urging the lower end of said valvemember toward sealing contact with said annular valve seat when thehammer member is adjacent the anvil member, and fluid pressure conduitmeans arranged to convey fluid under pressure to the space between saidhammer member and anvil member and to elevate said hammer membersufliciently to lift said valve member olf said annular valve seat,whereby to release said hammer member for impact with said anvil member.

5. In a fluid actuated impact tool, an anvil member having a fluidrelease bore extending axially therethrough and having an annular valveseat at its top end, a hammer member, sleeve means axially secured tosaid hammer member and slidably and sealingly receiving said anvilmember and slidably connecting said hammer member to said anvil memberfor reciprocation relative thereto along the axis of said bore, saidhammer member being formed to deliver an impact to said anvil memberafter the hammer member has been elevated relative to the anvil memberand then released, a valve member aligned with said bore, said valvemember de pending from and being slidably and resiliently connected tosaid hammer member, means urging the lower end of said valve membertoward sealing contact with said annular valve seat, spring means urgingsaid hammer member toward said anvil member when the hammer is adjacentthe anvil member, and fluid pressure conduit means arranged to conveyfluid under pressure to the space between said hammer member and anvilmember and to elevate said hammer member sufficiently to lift said valvemember off said annular valve seat, whereby to release said hammermember for impact with said anvil member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,892,517 Pennington Dec. 27, 1932

